In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll take a look at the player news headed into the Minnesota Wild afternoon game today. With the team as injured as it is, there are a lot of player movements to know about.
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I suppose this happens to all NHL teams, but the Maple Leafs have seemed to be hit hard by injuries this season. Yet, they are holding in there. What does this mean for the team going forward? Who knows? We will see over the next few games.
Item One: Conor Timmins Practices with Leafs on Thursday
Yesterday, Conor Timmins met his new teammates for the first time in his first practice with the team. That said, although he’s here and physically ready for action, it looks as if Victor Mete will draw into the mix as the team’s third defensive pairing. Mete will partner with Mac Hollowell, who survived his first NHL game. It was a wild one.
When questioned after the trade, Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas told the media that Timmins had recovered fully from his upper-body injury. That said, he’ll probably have a practice or two more with his team before he suits up for his first Maple Leafs’ game action.
Sadly, for the St. Catherines native, Timmins has dealt with injuries throughout his entire hockey career – even, since he played juniors. With the Maple Leafs, his first role will be as a bandaid for an injured defensive corps. However, Timmins might be one of those players where there could be more.
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Ironically Timmins’ own injuries have prevented him from ever reaching the potential he showed early and that made him a second-round draft choice (32nd overall) of the Colorado Avalanche in 2017. Unfortunately, those injuries have also limited him to 41 NHL games.
Should Timmins ever be able to stay healthy, after the short-term fix he provides for the team, it will be interesting to see if he can revive his potential in Toronto. It wasn’t much of a long-term gamble by the organization.
Item Two: Wayne Simmonds Draws into the Lineup Today
Reports are that Wayne Simmonds will take his place on the fourth line of the Maple Leafs’ starting lineup today in Minnesota. I’m guessing that, with the arrival of newcomer and tough guy Ryan Reaves from the New York Rangers to the Wild, the…
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